Pellegrini won't reveal until Saturday whether Romanian will suffer Wembley heartache for second year running after playing in the previous rounds

Glove story: Pellegrini is keeping his decision over Hart and Pantilimon to himself for now (Photo: Michael Regan)

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Joe Hart insists he is “man enough” to cope with being left out of the Capital One Cup Final.

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini HAS decided on his goalkeeper for the final against Sunderland at Wembley – but will not let England star Hart or his stand-in Costel Pantilimon know until the eve of Sunday's match.

But Hart, speaking publicly for the first time about the dip in form that saw him temporarily ousted by Pantilimon as the Blues' first-choice this season, said he had learned from the tough experience.

“You have to be able to accept when you are playing or not,” said Hart. “When managers have got decisions to make, whether it benefits me or not, I have to be man enough to take it.

“I work hard every day to win and I understand it does not always go my way, and you have to move forward.”

Pantilimon has started all but one of City’s Capital One Cup games on the way to the final, and is desperate to avoid another dose of Wembley heartache.

Then-City boss Roberto Mancini dropped the Romanian in favour of Hart for last season’s FA Cup final defeat to Wigan, despite Pantilimon having played in every previous round.

The 6ft 8in keeper, the tallest player in the Premier League, admitted he was in the dark over whether or not he will start on Sunday.

He said: “Only the manager can say this. I’m like all the players, we are waiting.

“I don’t want to talk about last season’s FA Cup final. We don’t know what the team is going to be. The manager decides the team on the day of the game.

“I’m not the only one who wants to play. It’s important for the team and for the club. It’s important because this is the first competition that will be decided. We hope to win it and also to win the other trophies.”